Greg Layson from the Guelph Mercury has put together an OUA Preview based on a poll of OUA coaches Carleton Still Number One plus another article by Layson previewing the hometown Guelph Gryphons Time to Tip Off

Mary Caton from the Windsor Star has a piece on the Windsor Lancers (thanks to Cam LaCivta for sending along the link which is unaccessible unless you have a subscription so I've reprinted the article) Lancers build from strengthMen’s basketball team kicks off season Friday BY MARY CATON STAR SPORTS WRITER Can expectations for the Windsor Lancers’ men’s basketball team climb any higher? After all, the Lancers return virtually the entire roster from last year’s 16-6 OUA championship team. They’ve made a serious upgrade in the back court with transfer guard Isaac Kuon and a number of players (ie. Greg Surmacz, Tyler Carey, Kevin Cameron, Jonathan Burnett) have gotten bigger and stronger in the off-season. A tough pre-season schedule, that included several NCAA Division I opponents, shot Windsor from fourth to second in the national rankings, behind only the defending CIS champion Carleton Ravens. Now, add a healthy does of pent-up Lancer pride that’s been simmering ever since the football team fumbled through an unexpected losing season. Yes, expectations are playing above the rim as the Lancers prepare to open the 2007-08 conference schedule Friday, hosting Laurentian in an 8 p.m. tipoff. York comes in Saturday for another 8 p.m. contest. “Last year, expectations sort of built as the season went along but this is all at the beginning,” head coach Chris Oliver said. “And it’s not just the fans and the community, it’s your opponent as well. They know if they don’t play at their best level, they could get beat and even get beat badly. It’s different but don’t get me wrong, it’s a fun position to be in.” Back for another run to the CIS tournament are the team’s three leading scorers in OUA West all-star Kevin Kloostra (16.77 ppg) and second-team all-stars Surmacz (15.23 ppg and 10.2 rpg) and Ryan Steer (13.73 ppg). Fifth-year forward and co-captain Greg Allin also returns although his brother, Rich, won’t be in uniform until after Christmas following a late start at teacher’s college. At least for now, Kuon, a six-foot-four slashing guard, will rotate through the fifth starter’s spot with Corey Boswell and Matt Handsor. Carey, Cameron and Jonathan Burnett will vie for Rich Allin’s minutes. Defence raises questions: “The hope is that one of those guys establishes himself as the prime guy,” Oliver said. Second-year forward Stevan Ljuljdurovic is another bigger, better Lancer pushing for floor time. Oliver knows his team can score, it’s consistent defence that remains elusive. “It’s not that we’re not capable of it,” he said. “It’s a mind set and we’re going to establish that mind set Friday.” He’s hammered home the point that last year’s success is simply history now. “The dangerous part now is dealing with the expectations and forgetting what got you to this point,” he said. “You have to earn every second of that success.” mcaton@thestar.canwest.com or 519-255-5777 ext. 414

Here is a note from Wayne Thomas from Calgary on tomorrow's TWU vs. Calgary game in Langley, B.C. Spartans Dangerous Despite Losses The Dinos need only harken back to last season in 'The Jack' when Tony Dhaliwal had to bail the boys out in the second half after the Trinity Western Spartans ran berserk in the first and took a 20 pt. lead. Forunately, TD has that kind of 'wild in the streets' kind of pace, and he countered the Spartans press and fast break, and the Dinos prevailed. Now forward to 2007 and out to the bandbox gym in Langley ... there really is a pep band, and lots of noise from the Trinity 'faithful', so home court is a big deal for the Spartans. Coach Stan Peters is missing his two top players from last season as both Brian Banman (5th, Kelowna, B.C.), who had 20.8 pts, 4 rebs, 2.3 assists per game, and Jon Schmidt (5th, Rosedale, B.C.), 10.8 pts, 4.3 assists, 2.5 rebs per game, will be sitting out the season do to injury. As a result the Spartans will need to rely on their younger players . TWU is 0-4 at the start of this season with losses to UBC and UVic away on the coast, and to Brandon and Regina on the prairies last week. They look to guards Luke Robinson, 13.5 pts, 4.5 rebs, Jon Loewen, 11 pts, and Lucas Goltz, 21 pts., 6.5 rebs., along with big men Joe Vroom, 6'9", and Jason Keegstra, 6'7". Calgary Christian HS grad Lance Verhoeff, 6'8", has been out with injury as has Mike Brouwer, another 6'8" post. The Spartans will likely try and speed the game up and apply full court pressure in the tight confines of the 'Trinity Dome' in an effort to negate the Dinos big men inside. Game time is 9:00 pm Mountain ... the game will be webcast, click here to access webcasting for TWU/Calgary. Go to ... canadawest.org for scores and summaries.

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I enjoy Canadian University basketball and with this blog hope to contribute to sharing as much as information about CIS basketball as possible. Please share your comments and suggestions, positive or otherwise, by emailing marek.wacyk@sympatico.ca I also advise others on their financial well-being with RBC Dominion Securities as an Investment Advisor www.markwacyk.com